Women Play Hockey Toohttps://womenplayhockeytoo.com
A gathering place for gals of all skill levels who like to play hockeyFri, 09 Feb 2018 14:25:26 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.896975092Two Sisters, Two Countries in Women’s Olympic Hockeyhttps://womenplayhockeytoo.com/two-sisters-two-countries-in-womens-olympic-hockey
https://womenplayhockeytoo.com/two-sisters-two-countries-in-womens-olympic-hockey#respondFri, 09 Feb 2018 14:25:26 +0000https://womenplayhockeytoo.com/?p=536Read more]]>Two Sisters

Representing Two Countries

In Olympic Hockey

Hanna and Marissa Brandt are sisters. Growing up in Minnesota, they were as much friends as they were sisters. But in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games this year, they will be competitors, representing both the United States and The Unified Korean team in Women’s Hockey.

Hockey Players!

Skaters!

Michiganders!

Red Wings Fans!

I don’t know if you’ve ever had the chance to skate on the home ice of the Pro Team you root for. If you have, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say, there is no ice that compares.

I have my favorite rink. I love the people who run it. I love gearing up there. It has my favorite instructors and coaches. And I love gliding out on that freshly zambonied sheet of ice.

My favorite rink also has my favorite hockey rink smell. Wait, what?!? All hockey rinks smell like, well, a hockey rink, right?!? Well yes, they do smell “like a hockey rink”. But after you’ve been in what seems like at least a hundred or more of them, all across the country, if you pay close attention, you will notice they don’t all smell exactly alike. There are nuances to the smell of each rink.

As soon as I walk through the door of this rink, the smell is the first thing I notice and it washes over me, putting me right in a happy place. It takes me back to the memories of just starting out there, tying up my son’s laces when he was a little three-year-old guy and gearing up right alongside him.

The other night at a family meal with my kids, my wife, my parents and my uncle, I was talking about a business over by this rink. My mom asked, “where is it?” And I said, “Over by the rink.” And everyone at the table nodded their head and knew exactly where I was referring to. The Rink. And right now, no one in my family is even skating there currently.

So, I do love my home ice. Our home away from home. It’s the place that boosts my endorphins while simultaneously being the only place where nothing else in the world matters, or even comes to mind, except hockey.

But the first time I got to play a game on the Red Wings home ice? Wow, it was like being on my home ice x10. Over an hour to drive and park and find the locker room and get geared up for a 6:00 a.m. game time. My blades hit that ice and all I could think was, wow, can you even imagine that I am here. It felt like a dream. That is, until the puck dropped. And then it was, Game On!

Here’s Your Chance to Skate on The Red Wings Home Ice!

Register for the chance to win a Sheet of Ice for your very own Drop-In Hockey Game or Skating Party at the brand-new-state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena for you and nine guests, courtesy of Dunham’s Sports.

Who doesn’t love to win, right?!? There’s nothing like coming off the ice with a win! Whether it be a team win by the scoreboard, a personal goal achieved on the ice or witnessing a fellow player pushing past her barriers, we’re all in and that feeling of accomplishment stays with all of us, on the ice and off.

I received an email from USA Hockey today with a link to take a (literally) 30-second survey for a chance to win three hockey sticks. Talk about a win! And of course, I just had to share it here so you can all take your shot at winning too!

So here’s your chance at a win that could put three new hockey sticks in your gloves! To win free hockey sticks to add to your collection of hockey equipment? Not only would that be Awesome, everyone on your team will be celebrating with you!

photo credit USA Hockey

Choosing a hockey stick might not seem like a big deal, but it really is. There is more to consider than just what it looks like or the price tag. Hockey Sticks are as varied as the personalities and type of players using them.

Hockey sticks are not created equal. For one, the price range is huge. The materials they are made of are a wide variety. And the attributes of the many styles of hockey sticks are geared towards the many styles of play and use of the players.

There are many considerations to think about when choosing a stick, such as the basic information of your position, your style of play and your height. Whether you are a left handed or right handed shot will determine the direction of the curve of your blade. Your stick needs to be made of materials that fit you comfortably. There are decisions to be made as to what type of stick shaft suits you, as well as the curve of your blade. The right materials, with the right stick and the correct blade lie and kick point and bend, along with the right grip, make for a lot to consider. And a lot of time in the hockey shops, testing out a ton of sticks on dryland.

So….Who wouldn’t want a chance to test drive three new sticks for free?!?

By taking this survey, you will be entering your email address with USA Hockey and may receive emails from them in the future.

I received an email inviting me to take this survey because I am registered with USA Hockey. My email address had not been sold. The email was sent under the category Corporate Partner Information. I have the option to customize my messaging. USA Hockey included this information in the email: We value your membership and want you to control what messages you receive. If you wish to modify the type of emails you receive regarding USA Hockey, please CLICK HERE to change your preferences. To view USA Hockey’s privacy policy, click here: View Policy USA Hockey 1775 Bob Johnson Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Call 800-752-8375, ext. 123 for assistance. Respond to MemberServices@usahockey.org if necessary.

Get Up and Get Moving

Become a Better Hockey Player

And Have Fun!

]]>https://womenplayhockeytoo.com/calling-all-new-jersey-beginner-adult-hockey-players/feed0432Feel Like A Kid Again #Wannaplayhttps://womenplayhockeytoo.com/feel-like-a-kid-again-wannaplay
https://womenplayhockeytoo.com/feel-like-a-kid-again-wannaplay#commentsThu, 13 Aug 2015 19:56:53 +0000https://womenplayhockeytoo.com/?p=414Read more]]>FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN, GET OUT AND PLAY!

NHL Video Clips Never Get Old

I see loads of videos of NHL Hockey Players. I love hockey. There is no doubt about it. It’s a good thing too since I have a 13-year-old who also loves hockey. Not only do I get to share a love of hockey with him, I love it when he’s coming to me, ready to show me the next NHL Hockey video that he’s been studying over and over again. How great is it that I get to parent this wonderful kid and share a passion with him? How great, indeed, that I am honored with the title of hockey parent! I hope he never stops showing me videos of NHL Hockey Players!

I Feel Like A Kid Again!

I am a hockey parent, and I am a player too. And every time I skate out onto the ice, I feel like a kid again. That magical time in life, when the only thing on your mind was hanging out with your friends and doing what you loved to do. I can spend the time driving to the rink, thinking about what I have to do when I leave. Getting my equipment on, I may be mentally adding notes as to what needs to be picked up at the store. But as soon as my skates glide across the ice, everything vanishes except the exhilarating feeling of the connection between me, my stick, the ice and the puck. An absolute stress reliever, hockey makes me feel like a kid again. I may enter the rink as a hockey parent and business owner, with all of the stress that life brings, but when I’m out on the ice, it’s like being a kid again and hockey is the only thing on my mind!

When I Am On the Ice, I Can Do Anything

I started playing hockey as an adult. I didn’t play as a kid, a time when the world was an oyster and the opportunities were endless. But I’ll tell you, when I get out on the ice, that is exactly how I feel. Realistically, I know my age and I know my skill level, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling like I can do anything. I may have only started to play hockey in my 30’s, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling like an NHL player every time I am in a game!

Grateful to Play

There are loads of videos of NHL Hockey Players on the internet, but none causes me to wish I were a kid again, with the chance to grow up playing hockey and a chance at playing with the pros, then this NHL Hockey Video! I can actually feel the thrill these kids must have had when Jonathan Toews showed up at their door, inviting them out to play, every time I watch it. As for me, I’ll stay grateful that I do play and that I get on the ice or get involved with a game of street hockey every chance that I get! There’s nothing better than getting out to play and feeling like a kid again!

#Wannaplay with Jonathan Toews

Jonathan Toews Visits his Neighborhood in Winnipeg – Surprises Kids with a Game They Won’t Forget!

]]>https://womenplayhockeytoo.com/calling-all-women-hockey-players-metro-detroit/feed0368“Try Hockey” Programs – A Great Way to Get on the Icehttps://womenplayhockeytoo.com/try-hockey-programs-a-great-way-to-get-on-the-ice
https://womenplayhockeytoo.com/try-hockey-programs-a-great-way-to-get-on-the-ice#respondWed, 22 Jul 2015 22:26:26 +0000https://womenplayhockeytoo.com/?p=354Read more]]>SKATE YOUR WAY INTO A CLINIC

If you’re thinking you would like to play hockey, but not sure it is for you, consider getting together with a bunch of people, or possibly even only women, just like you: wanting to take that first glide on the ice, but hesitant to take that first step out. Or, maybe you think you want to play, but you’re not sure if hockey really is for you.

There are many ways to try hockey for the first time: skate out on a frozen lake or pond, put on all the equipment and hit the local rink during open skate or a sticks & pucks session. The really brave hop in on a local drop-in game.

Another alternative, with the bonus of coaching and guidance, is to locate a “Try Hockey” Program or Clinic near you, such as the annual Spartan Women’s Hockey Clinic, hosted by Michigan State head coach Tom Anastos and his wife, Lisa, in East Lansing Michigan.

Clinics are a great place to get a feel for skating in equipment and sharing the ice with other hockey players. Clinics are also a great place for those who can’t yet skate, or have only a bit of skating skill. With the guidance and instruction offered in a clinic setting, not-yet-stable skaters not only learn how to skate, they learn how to hockey skate! There are many such programs like this for youth and a growing number of rinks and arenas are offering this option for adult players as well.

If you have trouble finding a “Try Hockey” program in your area, consider asking a rink if you can attend a youth session. You could also ask an arena or hockey program if you could help them organize a clinic for adults, if one is not yet established.

Many potential hockey players, after one clinic session, become hooked!

If you know of a “Try Hockey” program or clinic in your area, please be sure to alert the rest of the community by posting the program in the Comments below!

]]>https://womenplayhockeytoo.com/try-hockey-programs-a-great-way-to-get-on-the-ice/feed0354Sometimes, A Bit of Inspiration is All You Needhttps://womenplayhockeytoo.com/short-inspirational-stories
https://womenplayhockeytoo.com/short-inspirational-stories#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 20:52:33 +0000https://womenplayhockeytoo.com/?p=299Read more]]>

Walking Off the Ice

I had to put my hockey “career” on hold. I had started playing hockey in my 30’s, just after my 3-year-old started to play. I played for a couple of years and then, well, life happened. I was thoroughly happy to be doing everything in my life that was taking away the time that I could get on the ice, but, I missed playing hockey, nonetheless. I missed working on my skating and hockey game skills in the adult Breakfast Club 6am skates with coaches. And, I missed Sunday night game nights and the thrill of competition and pushing myself on the ice, mentally and physically. In fact, I missed the ice every day.

Opportunity

I didn’t let an opportunity to be involved with hockey pass me by. Fortunately, I only had to miss working on my skills and actually getting to play, as my son was playing, so I was still in a rink several times a week. Walking into the rink, the smell* of the ice alone induced an immediate surge in endorphins, calming me and stopping any stress of the day dead in its tracks at the threshold of the arena doors.

*A smell can bring on a flood of memories, influence people’s moods and even affect their work performance. Because the olfactory bulb is part of the brain’s limbic system, an area so closely associated with memory and feeling it’s sometimes called the “emotional brain,” smell can call up memories and powerful responses almost instantaneously. -‘How Smell Works’ by Sarah Dowdey

My son was still young and his coaches welcomed any extra adult hands onto the ice during practices and of course, I jumped at the chance. I rallied the team families with a duffle bag full of pom-poms and bells and each time the team scored, I passed a collection jar to use to celebrate the boys at the end of the season with. I ran the scoreboard and helped organize team get-togethers. And every chance I had, I took my boys to Sticks & Pucks or played hockey in the driveway and mini sticks in the basement. I said yes to as many hockey chances as I could.

Time to Get Back on the Ice

One year off of the ice turned into two and finally, my heart was telling me it was time for me to get back in the game. And surprisingly, fear was holding me back. Getting back on the ice the second time actually proved to be more of a mental challenge than the first time! I worried about being able to be available every Wednesday morning and every Sunday night. I worried more about the skills class and getting back in on a game than I had the first time I played. I told myself the scheduling will work out. I reminded myself that I had done it once and I could do it again. My mind kept telling me the same thing: It’s time. Just do it. And yet, fear was holding me back.

A Little Inspiration Goes a Long Way

And then, inspiration came my way, in the form of a video: ’65-Year-Old Hockey Player Diane Pieknik’. I finished watching the video and called the rink. Time wasn’t going to stand still for me and there was no better time than now. Within a week, I was back on the ice. And the story gets better…because who did I skate out on the ice with that day? 65-Year-Old Hockey Player Diane Pieknik. I was thrilled to share with her that she was the inspiration that got me on the ice that day! Check out Diane’s video. Whether you’re new to the game or have been playing for years, or don’t play hockey at all, I guarantee, you’ll enjoy Diane’s story. And maybe find a little inspiration for your day too.